Preview Baseball

Where will they finish?

Here are our unscientific guesses.

Inland Empire League

5A

1. Lewiston

2. (tie) Lake City

2. (tie) Coeur d’Alene

4. Post Falls

4A

1. Lakeland

2. Sandpoint

3. Moscow

Intermountain League

1. Bonners Ferry

2. St. Maries

3. Priest River

4. Timberlake

5. Kellogg

Returning all-leaguers

In the IEL, six first-team picks return. They are: Lake City senior pitcher Alex Capaul, Lewiston senior pitcher Brett Harris and senior outfielder John Rohde, Sandpoint senior pitcher Tyler Lichty, Coeur d’Alene senior shortstop Shea Vucinich and Post Falls senior designated hitter Brandon Haas.

Lake City junior infielder Trent Bridges was the league’s newcomer of the year last season.In the IML, six all-league picks return. They are: Bonners Ferry senior pitcher/catcher Ross Patterson and senior infielder Josh Hawks, Timberlake senior outfielder Noel Gonzales, Priest River sophomore pitcher /infielder Brian Nelson and St. Maries junior pitcher/catcher Dalton Baker and senior infielder Logan Shelden.

Road to state

In the IEL, the 5A Region I champ advances to state while the runner-up can earn a berth in a play-in game against the District III (Boise-area) fifth-place team. The state tourney is May 17-19 in Boise.

In 4A, just the regional champ advances to state, scheduled May 17-19 at Albertson College in Caldwell.

In the IML, the top two teams go to state, scheduled May 17-19 at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore.